A vehicle seat having a seat back including an actuatable back panel. The back panel of the seat back may be moved between a normal, or flush position, and an actuated, or spaced position, relative to the seat back assembly. The back panel may be provided with connectors that may be used to connect the back panel to the seat assembly. The back panel is actuated in the event of a rear end collision to provide added clearance for penetration of an occupant's torso into the seat back without interference by seat accessories, such as an adjustable lumbar system, a bolster assembly, massage assembly, or a heating/cooling system. The seat accessories may be secured to the back panel as a sub-assembly to facilitate manufacture. A resilient member biases a linkage or torsion bar to automatically reset the back panel.
|
1. A vehicle seat having a back rest for supporting the back of a seat occupant, the backrest comprising:
a seat back support assembly;
a cushion attached to the seat back support assembly;
a back panel that is movable between a flush position in which the back panel is secured flush to the seat back support assembly and a spaced position in which the back panel is retained in a spaced relationship relative to the seat back support panel;
a torsion bar operatively connected between the back panel and the seat back support assembly, wherein the torsion bar extends generally vertically across the back panel and is secured to the seat back support assembly adjacent first and second spaced portions of the seat back support assembly that are located near a top and a bottom of the seat back support assembly, respectively, and wherein forces applied by an occupant in a collision move the back panel from the flush position to the spaced position and against the force of the torsion bar, and wherein the torsion bar resets the back panel to the flush position after the collision.
|
This application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/411,434, filed Mar. 26, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,819,470, issued Oct. 26, 2010, which is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/465,919 filed Aug. 21, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,549,699, issued Jun. 23, 2009.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle seat that has a back panel that is movable relative to the seat between a position in which the back panel is flush mounted to the seat and a position in which the back panel is spaced relative to the seat.
2. Background Art
Vehicle seats are relatively complex structures including a combination of sub-systems that may be used to position the seat, provide heating and cooling, provide an adjustable lumbar support, in addition to providing a comfortable seating area for occupants. First and foremost, vehicle seats must provide a safe and comfortable seating area. The size of a vehicle seat must be limited to maximize vehicle interior space. For enhanced safety, vehicle seats may be provided with passive or active head restraints that are partially received within the interior of a vehicle seat. Other sub-systems, such as an adjustable lumbar support, heating system, cooling system, or position adjustment systems may also be required to be accommodated, in the whole or in part, within the body of a vehicle seat. Accommodating all of these elements in a vehicle seat presents substantial packaging problems in the design of the vehicle seat.
Assembly of seat accessories into a seat back becomes more complicated when more of such systems are included. Seat accessories may be attached to the seat frame by specialized brackets that increase the cost of the seat assembly and also complicate the assembly process. Assembly is further complicated by requirements that massage systems, adjustable lumbar supports and temperature modification systems are normally designed to prevent non-functional movement of such systems. Non-functional movement of such systems may cause unwanted noise and vibration and may adversely impact performance of the systems.
Seat back panels are normally sculpted to maximize the leg room available for rear seat passengers. Recesses in the back panel further limit the space available for seat accessories. Back panels are normally tightly secured to a seat with conventional fasteners, such as screws or clip-type connectors. Depending upon design features and constraints, the back panel of a vehicle seat may either be a relatively rigid molded member or may be formed by a fabric, leather or other flexible material that may be stretched across a frame or otherwise secured to the seat back.
There is a need for a vehicle seat having a seat back that meets all crash test requirements and provides ample clearance for seat structures, and also facilitates assembly of seating accessories within the seat.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle seat having a seat back is provided. The seat back includes a seat back frame and a seat back cushion secured to the seat back frame that faces in a forward direction. The seat back cushion is supported by the seat back frame. A back panel that faces in a rearward direction is secured by at least one connector to the seat back frame. The connector secures the back panel flush to the seat back in a normal position and has a retaining feature for securing the back panel in a spaced relationship relative to the seat back in an actuated position. The back panel may be moved from the normal position to the actuated position by a force applied to the seat in a collision.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle seat is provided that has a seat back for supporting the back of a seat occupant. A cushion is secured to the seat back support assembly and a suspension assembly is provided for supporting the cushion relative to the seat back support assembly. A back panel is provided as part of the seat back support assembly that is movable between a flush position in which the back panel is secured flush to the other parts of the seat back support assembly and a spaced position in which the back panel is retained in a spaced relationship relative to the other parts of the seat back support assembly. A plurality of connectors extend from a B-side of the back panel and engage the seat back support assembly. Compression of the seat back by the penetration of the torso of a seat occupant into the seat back may cause the back panel to move from the flush position to the spaced position as guided by the connectors. The vehicle seat back may be provided with a plurality of connectors extending from the B-side of the back panel that engage the seat back frame wherein compression of the seat back is applied to the back to move the back panel from the flush position to the spaced position.
According to other aspects of the present invention, the seat back may further comprise a lumbar support assembly, and a thermal conditioning system, such as a heating or cooling system, that is secured to the back panel. Other types of systems that may be assembled to a seat back may include a massage system, side bolster adjustment systems, upper foam adjustment mechanisms, power head restraint adjustment mechanisms, wiring, and other electronic modules.
According to other aspects of the invention, a plurality of connectors may be provided that secure the back panel to the seat frame and provide at least one guide for controlling movement of the back panel. The connectors may have a full insertion stop that is engaged when the back panel is in the normal position and an extended stop that is engaged when the back panel is in the actuated position.
According to other aspects of the invention, the back panel may be either a solid shell or may include a flexible sheet that forms part of a trim assembly. The back panel may be sculpted with an A surface that is recessed into the back rest.
These and other aspects of the present invention will be better understood in view of the attached drawings and following detailed description of the illustrated embodiments of the invention.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The connectors 20, 26 or guide members 32, 34 may be provided with a contrasting color area or other indicia that are only visible when the back panel 16 is in its actuated position. The purpose of the indicia is to indicate to a user after a collision that the back panel has been shifted to its actuated position. The indicia may include instructions as to how to reset the back panel 16.
Referring to
Referring to
In the event of a collision, the back panel 70 may be released from the seat back and shifted to its actuated position, as shown in phantom lines in
While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Humer, Mladen, Yetukuri, Nagarjun, Locke, Gerald
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
10046682, | Aug 03 2015 | Ford Global Technologies, LLC | Back cushion module for a vehicle seating assembly |
10046683, | Jan 23 2014 | Ford Global Technologies, LLC | Suspension seat back and cushion system having an inner suspension panel |
10065546, | Apr 02 2014 | Ford Global Technologies, LLC | Vehicle seating assembly with manual independent thigh supports |
10166895, | Jun 09 2016 | Ford Global Technologies, LLC | Seatback comfort carrier |
10220737, | Apr 01 2016 | Ford Global Technologies, LLC | Kinematic back panel |
10239431, | Sep 02 2016 | Ford Global Technologies, LLC | Cross-tube attachment hook features for modular assembly and support |
10279714, | Aug 26 2016 | Ford Global Technologies, LLC | Seating assembly with climate control features |
10286818, | Mar 16 2016 | Ford Global Technologies, LLC | Dual suspension seating assembly |
10286824, | Aug 24 2016 | Ford Global Technologies, LLC | Spreader plate load distribution |
10369905, | Oct 03 2014 | Ford Global Technologies, LLC | Tuned flexible support member and flexible suspension features for comfort carriers |
10377279, | Jun 09 2016 | Ford Global Technologies, LLC | Integrated decking arm support feature |
10391910, | Sep 02 2016 | Ford Global Technologies, LLC | Modular assembly cross-tube attachment tab designs and functions |
10596936, | May 04 2017 | Ford Global Technologies, LLC | Self-retaining elastic strap for vent blower attachment to a back carrier |
10640022, | Jun 09 2016 | VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT | Device and method for fastening a backrest cover to a vehicle seat |
9649962, | Jan 24 2013 | Ford Global Technologies, LLC | Independent cushion extension and thigh support |
9707870, | Jan 24 2013 | Ford Global Technologies, LLC | Flexible seatback system |
9707873, | Jan 24 2013 | Ford Global Technologies, LLC | Flexible seatback system |
9802512, | Apr 12 2016 | Ford Global Technologies, LLC | Torsion spring bushing |
9834166, | Jun 07 2016 | Ford Global Technologies, LLC | Side airbag energy management system |
9845029, | Jun 06 2016 | Ford Global Technologies, LLC | Passive conformal seat with hybrid air/liquid cells |
9849817, | Mar 16 2016 | Ford Global Technologies, LLC | Composite seat structure |
9849856, | Jun 07 2016 | Ford Global Technologies, LLC | Side airbag energy management system |
9873360, | Jan 24 2013 | Ford Global Technologies, LLC | Flexible seatback system |
9873362, | Jan 24 2013 | Ford Global Technologies, LLC | Flexible seatback system |
9889773, | Apr 04 2016 | Ford Global Technologies, LLC | Anthropomorphic upper seatback |
9914378, | Dec 16 2016 | Ford Global Technologies, LLC | Decorative and functional upper seatback closeout assembly |
9994135, | Mar 30 2016 | Ford Global Technologies, LLC | Independent cushion thigh support |
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
3802737, | |||
3888329, | |||
4335918, | Sep 10 1980 | B S G INTERNATIONAL LIMITED | Vehicle safety seat |
5857750, | Mar 15 1995 | NHK SPRING CO , LTD ; NISSAN MOTOR CO , LTD | Seat device |
6022074, | Sep 14 1995 | Autoliv Development AB | Seat for use in a vehicle |
6033018, | Jan 29 1996 | TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH | Vehicle seat |
6199947, | Sep 06 1996 | BAIC HONG KONG INVESTMENT CORP LIMITED | Vehicle seat provided with a headrest |
6250714, | Aug 28 1998 | Ikeda Bussan Co., Ltd. | Seatback for automobile |
6485098, | Oct 30 1998 | Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc. | Restraint system for a school bus seat |
6523892, | May 20 1999 | Mazda Motor Corporation | Seat structure for vehicle |
6550865, | Aug 09 2001 | Hyundai Motor Company | Headrest assembly for protecting the neck of a vehicle seat occupant |
6604788, | Dec 14 1998 | Lear Corporation | Vehicle pivotal headrest |
6702377, | Oct 30 2000 | Johnson Controls Automotive Systems Corporation | Vehicle seat back assembly |
6786544, | Nov 07 2003 | Tachi-S Co., Ltd. | Seat back structure of vehicle seat |
6890029, | Jul 10 2001 | Autoliv Development AB | Head-rest arrangement |
6938953, | Jan 23 2001 | Autoliv Development AB | Vehicle seat |
6991286, | Feb 26 2004 | International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC | Retractor location for seat with integrated restraints for a mobile vehicle |
7222915, | Feb 21 2003 | FAURECIA SIEGES D AUTOMOBILE | Backrest of an automobile vehicle seat |
20040075312, | |||
20060006709, | |||
20060094518, | |||
20060103189, | |||
20060255632, |
Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Oct 05 2010 | Lear Corporation | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / | |||
Jun 17 2011 | Lear Corporation | JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N A , AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT | SECURITY AGREEMENT | 026468 | /0182 | |
Jan 30 2013 | Lear Corporation | JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N A , AS AGENT | SECURITY INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 030076 | /0016 | |
Jan 04 2016 | JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N A , AS AGENT | Lear Corporation | RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 037701 | /0318 |
Date | Maintenance Fee Events |
Dec 15 2014 | M1551: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 4th Year, Large Entity. |
Feb 04 2019 | REM: Maintenance Fee Reminder Mailed. |
Jul 22 2019 | EXP: Patent Expired for Failure to Pay Maintenance Fees. |
Date | Maintenance Schedule |
Jun 14 2014 | 4 years fee payment window open |
Dec 14 2014 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Jun 14 2015 | patent expiry (for year 4) |
Jun 14 2017 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 4) |
Jun 14 2018 | 8 years fee payment window open |
Dec 14 2018 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Jun 14 2019 | patent expiry (for year 8) |
Jun 14 2021 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 8) |
Jun 14 2022 | 12 years fee payment window open |
Dec 14 2022 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Jun 14 2023 | patent expiry (for year 12) |
Jun 14 2025 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 12) |